Northern
Pike

Esox
lucius or Pike, Great Northern Pike,
Jack, Jackfish, Pickerel

DESCRIPTION
-
Of all species in Western Canada the Northern
Pike is considered the monster. A large
Northern Pike is over 4 feet long with
a slimy, serpentine body and clamp-like
jaws with many fangs pointing backwards.
The basic colouring of the pike is light
spots on a darker backing, the back being
a brilliant green through olive-green
to almost brown. The eyes are a brilliant
yellow.

DISTRIBUTION
- The Northern Pike is primarily a freshwater
fish found in clear, warm, slowly meandering
rivers and in the warm, weedy bays of
lakes. They occur throughout the four
western provinces of Canada.

BIOLOGY
- The Northern Pike is a spring spawner
who scatters its eggs at random throughout
the heavily vegetated floodplains of rivers,
marshes and lakes. The eggs hatch 12-14
days later. Life expectancy ranges from
10-26 years according to the area. Adults
feed largely on other fish as well as
frogs, crayfish, mice, muskrats and ducklings.

RELATION
TO MAN - In most areas in Canada it
is both a commercial and sport fish. It
is a delicious food; the flesh is white,
sweet and flaky.